St helena island

Secret of the South Atlantic

There aren't many secrets left in the world today. I would guess it's just as many as St Helenian's cruising the globe.​I'm from the small British Island called St Helena which is mid South Atlantic with a population of 4000. South Africa is the nearest landmass and lies 1000 nautical miles to the east, with Brazil 1700 nautical miles to the west.​The Island is famous for Napoleon's (the French Emperor) imprisonment between 1815 -1821 and spent his final years in the land of tranquillity and beauty.​We are normally referred to as saints, just shortened for where we're from. Some of you might have heard of St Helena and like the grape vine gossip the true and modern picture of the island can be varied and very cloudy. Even the internet and media gets it wrong sometimes.​The island was discovered in 1502 by navigator Joan da Nova after he was returning home to Portugal from India. He named the island Santa Helena after Helena of Constantinople.​The Portuguese bought the first mammals to the island like pigs, goats, dogs, cats and of course the rats came too. Also imported were the vegetables and fruit that we see today. It was eleven years later that the first settlers arrived (Fernao Lopez). The Portuguese managed to keep the island a secret untill 1589 when the Dutch found out about it. As a sailor myself I can see clearly why the Portuguese did this. St Helena's location was unique and important to the tall ships of this era that made their way around the world collecting spices and selling slaves. Even today we tend to use this route to break up the 6000 nautical mile trip from the Cape of Good Hope to the nearest Caribbean Island (Trindad).​ The 1800 nautical mile down wind sail to St Helena would have been inviting to all nationalities with did cause controversy. It was in December 1672 the Dutch arrived with four ships carrying 180 soldiers and 150 sailors with intentions to invade St Helena. By now the English East India company was establish there and the invasion was foiled.​Today you can see the fortifications along the coast line that was build to protect the island and she remains under the Bristish ruled. Finanical fundingcomes from the Uk to run the St Helena government and government agencies like teachers and nurses. The St Helena government is made up of local councillors who represents the eight districts around the island with a Governor as head of state. All government hierarchy seems to be run by English expatriates unlike years before where some St Helenian's would fit this roll, but things are changing with our first felmale Governor.​There is a private sector in building trades, shops, communication,export and local fishing, tourism and farming. A large number of Saints have expatriate jobs in the UK, Ascension and the Falklands which I think contributes to the private sector when they return home to build their homes or businesses. ​Just recently the St Helena airport was completed and is now awaiting bids from airline companies around the world to come forward and add another destination to their global travels. The British media thinks that it will change the island but St Helenian's has been exposed to the outside world for years. My dad talked about wearing bell bottoms and going to the movies at Sniffy's cinerma in the 70's. There was definitely three cinerma's in the 80's with John's drive in being very popular at Ladder hill. Video came in the early 80's when the American Gerry Smilie first bought it to our attention. The only changes I think would be to the emergency medical evacuations and the quicker transportation for local travellers to and from work.There has been a breakwater built at Ruperts valley to maintain our import and export freight.​We still have a problem with the vast amounts of tourists which stops on our door step each year. Huge cruise liner visit james bay only to find that the sea conditions are to rough to land the passengers. They are forced to move on because there is no safe landing. For the Captain, the sea conditions must be like glass before he allows the pasengers to come ashore but this many be conditioned by their insurance companies, but that is my opinion.​Crime has been low for years but with the influx of over seas workers, this might change.

​To the sailing community, there has been a mooring field in place for several years on the west side of the harbour and costing two pounds a night.​Checking in and out comes with no complications, the only requirement is medical insurance if you are going to stay more that three days.​Even the money tranaction has got a lot better. The bank of St Helena now offers a lot more services for over seas travellers.

For some of the myths about St Helena this will come with some reinsurance.* James bay is a harbour and is sheltered from the trade winds but not from the seasonal North Atlantic rollers.​* You don't need to swing from ropes on to the beach. The ropes are there to help with getting ashore safely when there is a swell and the landing has different heights to cater for the range of the tide. The ferry service is available if unsure of landing your dinghy.​* You can buy diesel, petrol and get your gas bottles filled at the gas station or at some shops.​* Sail repairs, stainless steel repairs, car hire, DIY stores and groceries can be obtained on the island.​* Internet can be purchased.​* Mobile SIM cards can be purchased.

​These are some of the myths that I have heard from yachties as I have been travelling around the world.

​St Helena is lavished in history and there is evidence of this all over the island. Some are just a short walk from the pier for example: Jacobs ladder, the fortification just above the landing and the museum at the bottom of Jacobs ladder. There is also a ship wreck called the Papanui just in front of the local moorings. These are just some of the attactions available to you at arms length.​From a Saints propective I would say that if visiting the island please get involved with the locals, this will improve your experience immensely and remember that the Saints are well travelled themselves.

​About the writer​​My family and I having been sailing around the world for the past five years on our yacht Carpe Diem. After leaving the UK in 2012 with three very young children we planned to circumnavigate the world. We have reached the bottom of South Africa, sailed through the Caribbean and admired the Pacific Ocean for all it's beauty. Last year we volunteered to help Fiji recover from cyclone Winston, building a school in Makogai and repairing their homes with other yacthies. We are now back in New Zealand and this season we are enjoying the Bay of Islands cyclone free sailing rather that Wellington's boisterous conditions of 2015. Being full time cruisers, there isn't much that phase us and we do enjoy our sailing no matter the contions.​We leave for Australia in May 2017 heading home to St Helena to complete our circumnavigation.

​You can find us on our web page: http://kidsinthecockpit.weebly.com which we are slowly building or Facebook jameshannahherne.